Machine for shaping turbine-blades.



.0. A. PARSONS & H. L. SHORT. MACHINE FOR SHAPING TURBINE BLADES.

APPLICATION TILED MAR. 18, 1907. 1 ,Q31,463, Patented July 2, 1912.

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C. A. PARSONS & H. L. SHORT.

MACHINE FOR SHAPING TURBINE BLADES.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR.18, 1007.

1,031,463. Patented July 2, 1912.

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1,031,463. Patented July 2, 1912.

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G. A. PARSONS .1; H. L. SHORT. momma r011 SHAPING TURBINE BLADES.

I I ARPLIOATIOH FILED MAB-18,1907. 1,031,463;

Patented July 2, 1912.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

. (lHABLES ALGERNON PABSON S AND HORACEIEONABD SHORT, OF NEWCASTLE-UPON TYNE, ENGLAND; SAID SHORT ASSIGNOB '10 SAID PARSONS.

MACHINE FOB SHAPING TURBINE-BLADES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES ALGERNON Parsons and Holmes LEONARD SHORT, subjects of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, and residing at Heaton- Works, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, in the county of Northumber'land, England, have invented a from the blade end so as to thin its end to a substantially uniform cross sectional thickness from one edge to the other edge of the turbine blade. Accordingto the invention, the machin hasga rotatable blade carrier to which is pivotally attached a member. which is adapted to hold a blade upon the carrier and then to move the blade against the rotating cutter whereby the blade end is reduced, then to release the blade and to restore the carrier to its initial position ready for the insertion of another blade.

.With most small turbine blades the concave surface of the blade approximates sufliciently to an arc of a clrcle to insure a practically even cross-section of blade'after the reduction has taken place without movetake ings:-Figures 1, 2 and 3 are side, end and .plan views respectively of a blade end reducing machine according toone form of the invention. Fig. i is a cross sectional view of the machine on line A B of Fig. 1. Figs. 5, 6 and I areside, end and plan views respectively of a modified form of blade end machine, theblade .not being Specification of Iietters Patent.

Application filed March 18, 1907. Serial No. 868,180.

a blade carrier,

views. Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view on the line C. D. of. Fig. 5, and showing the blade in position on the mandrel. Figs. 9 and 10 are fragmental views of the end of a mandrel of the form shown in Figs; 5.

to 8 of the drawings. Figs. 11 and 12 are detail views part1 insect on of the slotted jaw mechanism, *ig. 12 being a view at ri ht angles to Fig. 11. l

, n carrying the invention into effect 'as shown in Figs. 1 to 4 which illustrate a form especially suitable for blades of somewhat small size' or blades which are formed with their concave sides curved approximately to an arc of a circle, we provide a milling cutter, a, on a spindle I), supported in bearings, c and d, on a bed plate e. Approximately parallel to the cutter shaft is a blade carrying mandrel, m, mounted in bearings sothat it may be ad uStabIe in relation to the cutter shaft, as for instance, by supporting one end of it in a pivotally mounted bearlng, j, and the other in a slidable bearing, 9, secured to the bed plate by a set screw, h, passing through a slotted hole, 2', in the bearing block, a sprin k, be ing interposed between the slidable caring block and a buttress, l, and a thumb screw, 0, being passed through an extension, n, to bear against the block. The bearing :5, is held by a machined set screw, p. On the mandrel is a projecting strip of metal q,

formed by a long key or feather for supporting or (guiding the blade in its proper osition an S0 preventing the blade from shown in position on the mandrel in these Patented uly 2, 1912..

alling when released by the hand of the operator. To the mandrel there is also se-' cured a fulcrum block or lug, 1', having a slotted jaw asshown whichforms a pivotal connection for a lever, s, havinga toe piece, t, as shown clearly in Fi 2 and also in regard to the other-modi cation in Fig. 8 this toe piece being ada ted to clamp the blade, 18, firmly upon t e mandrel by the initial movement of the lever in an upward direction after which continued movement in the same direction rotates the mandrel. The end of the slotted jawv forms an abutment against which thelower edge of the lever, 8, contacts when said lever is moved in a downward direction by which means the mandrel may be rotated back to its v 1 against the strip, 9, and is slid along until' grip the blade firmly '*In the standard 9 is a small rod,- u, having a projecting portion, 42, which acts as a distance stop for the blade when the latter is placed on the mandrel with its end opposite the cutter, a, this rod being'adj ustably held by means of a screw, '10, in the standard block 9. The cutter "spindle may be rotated by any convenient means, as for instance by abelt on a pulley, w. The inandrel or blade carrier, m, is provided with some suitable friction. or other resistance to retard its motion, a convenient means being a pulley, 3 over which passes a strap brake z, the frictional effect of which may. be adjusted by means of the thumb nut 2. The rotary movement of the mandrel in both directions is limited by suitable stops, as for instance by securing on the mandrel a collar, 3, having two projecting faces adapted to engage with a stop 4 extending from the bearing block 9'.

' The operation of the machine is as follows :A blade is placed on the mandrel, m,

the end which is to be reduced bears against the. distance stop, 0. .The lever, s, is then moved forward. The initial part of the movement of the lever causes the piece .to on the mandrel, and the further movement the mandrel and blade carried by it. The

2 blade isthus carried against the rotating cutter, a, which in consequence -removes some of the metal from the convex side of the blade vat its tip. After the blade has been moved beyond the reach of the milling tool, the handle is moved backward. The first part of this backward mgvement mclamps the reduced blade which drops into a receptacle, the remainder of the movement effecting the restoration of the carrier or mandrel to its initial position, when it is ready to deal with another blade, these operations being repeated as rapidly as desired. The concave surface of small blades bemg" in most cases approximately an arc of a-'cir cle,itis found that when the blade venie' nt *mea'ns'as; for instance as shown in is held on the mandrel andlthe latter suitably "rotated in proximity a) the milling cutter, the desired amount of metal may be removed from the back of the blade to leave the reduced 'cross section practically even.

Where, however,'it is desired to reduce the ends of bla'desffof crosssection' the con 'cavity'i'of jwhicli difiers considerably from an arc of a 'eirclefitis desirable inorder to obtain an'evenreduced edge, to arrange for some relative movement totake place be tween the axes'pf thecutter spindle and Figs. 5 to 8 by providing on the mandrel, m, a former 15 firmly held to it by the collar, 30, andthe screw, 16, which engages "the blade mandrel the eccentric bein causes rotation of I strip at the same with the eccentric, 12, adjustably clamped against the bearing, a, by the screw 13 and plate 14. The bearings,f0 and d, for the cut-.- ter spindle, b, are'formed in one piece with the arm, 19, and the whole is pivoted to the bed-plate, e, by the 11, .tilts the cutter spmdle bearings toward normally brought into contact with the ormer thereby, while the adjustment of the eccentric, 12, determines the minimum distance between the cutter spindle and the mandrel. After a blade has been placed on the mandrel, the lever, s, is moved forward clamping the blade on the mandrel by its initial movement androtating the mandrel by its further movement. "As the mandrel rotates, the former,15,comes into contactwith the eccentric, 12, while the turbine blade is carried against-the milling cutter. The shape of the former, 15, must of course be determined from the section of the blade pin, 20. The spring v to be operated upon as will be readily un' H derstoo'd, and the amount of metal removed from the blade .tip is adjusted by varying the position of the eccentric about the cutter spindle The blade end may thus be milled so that the convex surface correspo-nds practically in contour or curvature with the concave face of the blade. By providing the cutter spindle with a circular saw, 85, of slightly larger diameter than the milling cutter, the blades; previously'opera-ted upon may be cut ofi from a length of time as the reduction of another blade end is taking place.

mandrel, ,is in this case, provided with a longitudinal groove, to allow the strip to be inserted fromthe end toward the cutter a. The mandrel'is formed with a clearance recess -17 opposite the saw. 'The length of the cut blade is of course determined by the h brake sleeve or pulley, y, fixed to the bladeamount of blade strip which is' fed forward at one time and the distance between the I recess in the mandrel opposite the saw, 85, and the collar, 30-, on the mandrel close to the bearing 0, determine the longest lengthof blade that can be cut off by the machine. It will of course be understood that the distance stop, 22, isonly used when separate blade pieces are placed on the mandrel by Having'now described 'our invention what band to be operated on and is removed when the bladestripis fed automatically along we" claim as new and'desire to secure by 4 Letters Patent is":

1. In combination ina machinefor shape I in turbine blades; a blade carrying mandrel-,-'a*leverhav1ng onelong and one short arm "pivotedon" said mandrel, said lever 'operating i-to rotate. said smand rel after a small rotational movement about its own pivot when said .long arm is moved in either direction and said short arm acting to clamp a blade to the mandrel when the long arm is moved in one .direction and releasing said blade when said long arm is moved n the opposite direction. A

2. In combination in a machine for shaping turbine blades, a blade carrying mandrel, a rotary cutter, a spindle carrying said cutter disposed parallel to said mandrel, a lever having one long and one short arm pivoted on said mandrel, said lever operating to rotate said mandrel after a small rotational movement'about its own pivot when said long arm is moved in either direction and said short arm acting to clamp a-blade to the mandrel when the long arm ismoved in one direction and. releasingsaid blade when said long arm is moved in the opposite direction.

3. In combination in a machine for shaping turbine blades, a blade carrying mandrel, a former mounted thereon, a rotary cutter, a spindle carryingsaid cutter dis posed parallel to said mandrel, movable bearings for said spindle, an eccentric adjustably clamped against one of said bearings and adapted to bear against said former and acting to regulate the distance of the axis of the cutter spindle from the blade carrying mandrel, a spring acting to I yieldingly draw the axis of the cutter spindle toward the blade carrying mandrel, a lever having one long and one short arm pivoted on said mandrel, said lever engaging to rotate said mandrelafter a small rotational movement-about its own pivot when said long arm is moved in either direction and said short arm acting to clamp a blade to the mandrel when the long armis moved in one direction and releasing said blade when said long arm is movedin the opposite direction.

drel, a rotary cutter,

4. In combination in a machine for shaping turbine blades, a blade carrying man-f drel, a slotted lug attached to said mandrel, a pivot parallel to said mandrel passing across said slot in said lug, a manually oper-- ated .lever having a long and a shortarm working on said pivot in said-slot, a gripping part formed at the end of said short' arm, which arm. is so shaped that its end approaches said mandrel to clamp a blade thereto when said long arm is moved in an upward direction after which further movement of said long arm tends to rotate said mandrel and a surface forming the end-pf said slot against. which said long armacts when moved in the reverse direction to return said mandrel to its original position.

5. In combination in a machine for shaping turbine blades, a blade carrying mana spindle carrying said cutter disposed parallel to-said mandrel, a slotted lug attached to'said mandrel, a pivot parallel to said mandrel passing across said slot in said lug, a manuallyoperated lever having a long anda short arm working on said pivot in said slot, a gripping part.

formed at the end of said short arm, which arm is so shaped that its end approaches said mandrel to clamp a blade thereto when said long arm is moved in an upward direc-' tion after wh1ch further movement of said long arm tends to present said blade to said cutter by rotating said mandrel and a sur-' face forming the end of. said slot against which said long arm acts when moved in the reverse direction to return said mandrel to its original position.

6. In combination in a machine for shaping turbine blades, a blade carrying mandrel, a former mounted thereon, a-rotary cutter, a spindle carrying said cutter disposed parallel to said mandrel, movable bearings for said spindle, an eccentric adjustably clamped against one of said bearings and adapted to bear against said former and actuating to re late the distance of the axis ofthe cutter spindle from theblade carrying mandrel, a spring acting to yieldingly draw the axis of the cutter spindle toward the blade carrying mandrel, a slotted lug attached to said mandrel, a pivot parallel to said mandrel passing across said slot in said lug, a manually operated lever having along arm working on said pivot is said slot, a gripping part formed at the end of said short arm, which arm is so shaped that its end approaches said mandrel to clamp a blade thereto when said long arm is moved in an upward direction after'which further movement of said long arm tends to present said blade to said cutterby rotating said mandrel, and a surface forming the end of said slot against [which said'long arm acts whenmoved in the reverse direction to return said mandrel to its original position.

7 In combination in a machine for shapfing turbine blades, a blade carrying mandrel, a slotted lug attached to said mandrel, a pivot parallel to said mandrel passing across said slot in said lug, a manually operated lever having a long and a short arm working on said pivot in said slot,a gripping part formed at the end of said short arm, which arm so shaped that its end approaches said mandrel to clamp a blade thereto when said long arm is moved 1n an upward direction,

brake means on the-blade carrying mandrel to hold same while said blade is so clamped, after which further movementof said long arm tends to rotate said mandrel, a surface forming the end of said slot against which said long arm acts when moved in the reverse direction to return said mandrel to the original position. a

8. In'combination in a machine for shaping turbine blades, a blade carrying mandrel, a rotary cutter, cutter disposed parallel to said man rel, a

a spindle carrym said slotted lug attached to said mandrel, a pivot parallel to said mandrel passing across said slot in said lug, a manually operated lever having a long and a short arm working on said pivot said slot, a gripping part formed at the end of said short arm, which arm is so shaped that its end approaches said mandrel to-clamp a blade thereto when said I by rotatingsaid mandrel, and a surfaceforming the end of said slot against which said long. arm'acts when moved in the, reverse direction to'return said mandrel to its original posit-ion.

9. In combination in a machine for shaping turbine blades, a blade carrying man'- drel, a former mounted thereon, a rotary cutter, a spindle carryingvsaid cutter dis osed parallel to said mandrel, movable earings forsaid spindle, an eccentric adjustably clamped. against one of. said bear ings and adapted to bear against said former and acting to regulate the distance of the axis of the cutter. spindle from the blade to said mandrel passing across said 'slotin said lug, a manually operated lever having a long and, a short arm. working on said pivot in said slot a gripping part formed at the end of said short arm, which arm is so shaped that its end approaches said mandrel 'to clamp ablade thereto when said long arm is moved in an upward direction, brake. means on the blade carrying mandrel to hold same while said bladeis' so clam ed, after which further movement of'said ong arm tends to present said blade to said cutter] by rotating said mandrel and, a surface forming the end ofsaid slot against which said long arm acts when moved in the reverse na'l position. In testimony whereof, we aflix our signatures in presence of two witnesses; I v .CHARLES ALGERNON PARSilNS.

k HORAICE LEONARD SHORT. Witnesses: WQLLLIFAM DAGGE'I'I,

.HENRY GRAHAM DAKxNs, Jr;

direction to return said mandrel to its origi- 

